Cross-feed mechanism



March 16, 1948.

S. E. WOODBURY CROSS-FEED MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 21, 1945 //I'//' 'l L- ////////II//I//IIIIIIIIIIIIIII/ S. E. WOODBURY CROSS-FEED MECHANISM I Filed Se t. 21, 1945 March 16, 1948.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 16, 1948 unset UNHED STATES PATENT OFFICE CROSS-FEED MECHANISM Stephen E. Woodbury, Beverly, Mass., assignor to Reid Brothers Company, Inc., Beverly, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 21, 1945, Serial No. 617,712

9 Claims (01. 51-2) of the invention may be fully appreciated it is shown as incorporated in a surface grinding machine, but it will be understood that the inven- Zion is by no means limited to a machine of this This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application for Grinding machines, Serial No. 500,078, which has now issued as Patent No. 2,390,978, dated December 11, 1945.

The principal object of the invention is to procolumn or post ll.

vide a feed mechanism for the purpose stated which not only permits feeding to be effected intermittently and automatically by power means, but which also permits movements in the feeding directions to be effected manually at any time without in any way interfering with the automatic action of the power means.

Further objects of the invention are to provide certain improved details and arrangements of parts which are effective in attaining the before-stated more general object.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of certain embodiments thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing the general organization of the machine,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of portions of the cross feed mechanism,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing an alternative embodiment of the invention.

The machine shown in the drawings for illustrating the invention is a grinding machine, and in such a machine the grinding wheel constitutes the cutting tool. Means are provided for effecting longitudinal reciprocating movements between the cutting tool and a work piece. While either the cutting tool or the work piece may be reciprocated, the illustrated machine is so constructed that the work piece is reciprocated on a suitable reciprocating table, the grinding wheel or cutting tool rotating about a fixed axis during movement of the work piece. Means are also provided for effecting relative transverse or cross feeding movements between the cutting tool and the work piece in timed relationship with the said longitudinal movements. While either the cutting tool or the work piece may be moved to effect cross feeding, the illustrated machine is so constructed that the table carrying the work piece is moved transversely, the grinding wheel or cutting tool rotating in fixed position. The general organization of the machine is not a part of the invention, except in combination with the novel cross feed mechanism which will be described. v

The illustrated machine includes a box frame ill from the rear side of which rises an upright A grinding wheel I8, together with its spindle and its individual driving motor 32, are mounted for vertical adjustment in a slide or carrier movably mounted on the post I I. The operative position of the grinding wheel is adjusted and controlled by a hand wheel HI, conveniently projecting from the front wall of the machine frame It.

In the top of the machine frame Ill are provided spaced transverse ways [2 and I9, and in these ways rests the cross slide IS. The slide I3 is provided with longitudinal ways in its upper face toward the rear and in these ways an elongated work table I6 is supported for longitudinal movement or traverse. The table carries an adjustably mounted magnetic chuck I! upon which awork piece to be ground by the wheel I 8 can be clamped.

Longitudinal movement or traverse of the work table l6 back and forth on the cross slide t3 is normally effected by suitable means, which are not shown but whichinclude an individual electric motor and power connections from the motor to the table; or longitudinal movement of the table can be effected by a hand wheel 29 which projects forwardly through the front wall of machine frame l0 near its left hand side. By means of a lever '21, the connections can be 4 changed for power traverse or hand traverse as may be required.

In the power operation of the machine the length of work table movement and the points of reversal thereof are determined by a pair of dogs ll and 42 adjustably mounted in an undercut slot 40 provided in the front edge of the table l6, as shown in Fig. 1. To this end a sector 43 is mounted to rock about the horizontal transverse axis of a shaft projecting forwardly from the casing of a reversing switch 49, the said switch being secured to one side of the cross slide l3. The aforesaid shaft projects forwardly and is provided with a knurled operating head 48 at its forward end. A pin 44 projects forwardly from one corner of the sector into the path of the dog 4! and a pin 45 projects rearwardly from the other corner of the sector into the path of the dog 42. When either dog 4| or 42 rocks the sector #3 the switch 49 is thrown 3 4 and current in the longitudinal traverse motor ment of the slide I 3 is effected by intermittent is reversed and with it the direction of movepower rotation of the screw 53 relatively to the ment of the table. The same result may be nut 55, or by manual rotation of the nut 55 relaobtained manually by turning the operating head tive to the screw 53 by means of the hand wheel 48 at any time when the sector 43 is clear of the 5 56. It will be seen that the manual movements dogs 4| and 42. 0f the slide effected by rotating the nut are sup- An individual cross feed motor 81 is shown as plemental to any power feeding movements efattached to'the'righthandzwall of the machine fected by notation of the screw; By rotating the frame Hi. It is started and-fstopped bymeansoh nut' bylhandaiwith the screw idle the slide may a switch 9!] controlled by the operation of the 10 be moved in either direction to bring the work sector 43. The mechanism and connections for piece: into proper relationship with the grinding controlling the motor 81 do not constituteharpartwheelorcutting tool. When the screw is bein of the present invention, and are fully disclosed i t rmitt ly p t by p r to ffect feedin my aforesaid copending applicationeof which:1.-: 111%,. the m n e ro y h n o in this application is a continuationz-ine'partz:,Foram oridecrease.theizamount of feeding without in purposes of the present invention, it is sufiicient nyway inter w t interrupting the to point out that the motor is started atior near..- re u ar intermittent rotation of the screw. the completion of travel of the table l6 'irrone- M ans isp d f r f i ti ly resisting the direction or the other or both, and is continuedii; rotation of the nut 55. As shown, there is a fricfor a predetermined interval and is then stopped. n W r 6 interposed w n he t n Each=actuation of the-feed-motor 81i-effects cross:.,;- the routenirace-of the adjacent rollerbearing 51. feedingof-the-slide-H toaa predeterminedextenttm e y. therbeerings 5 a e arranged by mean totbe-:d crib ma d th xt tg Qfl'BfiChr. thattlongitudinal or endwise pressure can beancrosasfeedingrmoyement canibe adjust db m pliedto theinnerrraces thereof by means of a ing the switch 90 vertically by means of theegg threaded-flang u 6 e hueh ngdS" manually. operabletdiscu- 103' Theedireetion. iof'r eld iniadiusted pesit y 1 s Screw-63;

er efeedingican:be-deterrnined=;byeaTmanuaHy bushing may be so adjusted as to loadthe bear-1 operable rreversing swit hjlo ings to enable them to additionally resist turn.-

Foreifecting cross reedingieither by-tne-motereing of -n 5-5: T re istan e ofifered by the 81 oramanually there isnprovidediairotatabieeao w t 't es ,5 s sufiicient screw and..9,,,rotatable nut zengagingjthe screw; normally-to prevent rotation of the nut '55 with one off-these -elementsibeingrotatablygconnectede the Screw 53 power transmitted from the. withthe movablercross slide 43.-and-tbeing mova- 1 tor 81, but it is not sogreat as to interfere withz bleiaxiallyetherewithxand thehtherroiithese: 818W:- r fi "by meehe' Of t e a d ments being rotatablyq-connected-withrtheamainwfl -Wheel: frametlmheldz against iaxial,movementwithpr ei Upon-power feedingof the cross slide in the: spect: thereto; Cross feeding cam-b r fi t diby y forward-direction, if the-feeding is not otherwise: rotatingthescrew;or.the-nut,ior==both;- stopped;:the.front endtof 'the screw-53 will en- As.shownin.=Fig.-2, it :is'-the:screw*that.;is.ax=.- eea st ps w 59 t ad d t wa ially,mov.ablewithntheeslide; thisscrew-."beingaw extension On"rthe nut 55 and the nut will then shown-at 53.and-.being-a=-part:ofzza shaft -.5 I'.-V:At e turmin t e bearings 51, 57, t us st pp its inner. end the shaft 51 is connected-.through:; feedingand p e e t ng 'any'd t0 thermaballrithrustnbearingse.to ayoke 'EDaDIOjeGtingP-w ehine- Undertheeendition ast e tio e t downwardly from.the.--lower-.-face ofthe=.--crosse. a d Whe 55 Will t y With the 11111155;

slide l3. This connection is the point ofaapplie; 45 Up0n=Powerfeeding of the cross slide in the rear-w cationi of theefeeding-=mechanism-torthencross wardefdireetieh; if the-feeding s et t e ise slidem stopped, the-cross slide [3 will reachzits rearward Theicrossfeedimotor 8'7 is-connectedtoaishaftt limit f mevemeht'when the flange o t e bush- (notashownycarryingaworm.(notlshowntnwhich 1 g fizieentaeter With t e ub 0f the p meshes with sin-elongated pinion inm ntedeon, v 0 and thereupon frictional engagement between v a shaft-,1;l,.journaledmithimthe. enclosure'aof-;-the=,- the screw 53 and theinut 55 will be increased to frame lflwTheielongated .piniontfillmesheamith such'an extent that the nut will turn with the a gear-t52ufast on: the. shattti l t-which carries-their ew in the bea i gs- 57,- thus permitt cross-=feediscrewt53 andtheilengtheofstheipiniorh. continued-rotation of the-screw without damage 60 istsuchthatv-it remainsin meshwvith the geane to the machines In this. case also thehand: 52 throughout thee-entire range oftmovement. of; WheeLBS will turn idly with the nut 55. the slide I3 and of the said gear. Thusnha-shaft'i. 3 shows an a te nat e e bodiment of t 5| and the-;screw- .53 are,rotatedawhenevenJ-then invention; and in-thise embodiment the rotatable motor-815soperated n screw-is eheldi against axial I movement.- The Inhthreadedengagementr with the. -screw-t-53. .is.- screwtis show-nlat e8-and it is a pa t Of a S aft an elongated-.nut: 55-rotatablyaheld;in :the==front- 69. 'Atrits inner: end the shaft ESQ-is connectedwallaof -thev machine frame:- l0 tpreferablyg-i by through ball thrust bearings H3, 10 with a pore meansiaof. anti-friction bearinga," suchnassoppoe I tion-of thew-frame l!l.- The cross feed motor 81 sitelyt disposedroller-thrust bearings.-,51,=. 51, is connectedpordinarily indirectly, to a shaft 'll I which/permit theinut to srota'tembut whichnprei-m journalediin the. frame It. The shaft 7| carries:

venteaxialnmovement-rthereof.e The.outerracese-r a pinion r12 whichimesheswith'a gear 13 ontheof theebearingsrSL 51' are theldtlnespaoedtrela-e V sha-t69e Thus the-shaft 69 and the screw 63 are tion. bytmeanstof a sleeve 54'.-= ArhfiHduWhGEhfiSi? rotatedewhenever the motor 8! is operated; is mounted-:onh-aeforward extensionnofetheenuti.-. In-engagementwith the screw 68 is an elon.--

55 within-.conuenient reach of the operator. i The 7 gated nutfld which is rotatably held in abracket i.- hand-:wheel 56+may-be graduated as showne-mw i5 depending -:fromthe bottom of a cross slide Fig.1, andnanHarmoES-fis provident onnthe imainre-i '56 which is similar in mounting and in 'function' frameihavinghanindicatingrmarketheiteonnadjaaeto theicross slide l3 but which differs therefrom, centthe.graduationaon'the handrwheel: as toccertain: details of construction. The nut;

Inwcross feedinginseitherndireetiomcmove-i- His preferablyamountedwin anti-frictionabeare" ings, such as oppositely disposed roller thrust bearings 11, 11. These bearings permit the nut to rotate but hold it in fixed relationship with the slide 16 so that it moves therewith. The bearings 11, 11 are or may be similar in construction and mounting to the bearings 51, 51 already described and repetition of the detailed description is unnecessary. A hand wheel 18 is mounted on a forward extension of the nut 14 within convenient reach of the operator. The hand wheel 18 may he graduated similarly to the hand wheel 56 and an arm 19 is provided on the slide 16 having an indicator thereon adjacent the graduations on the hand wheel.

Means is provided for frictionally resisting the rotation of the nut 14, this being a friction washer 80 similar to the friction washer 61 shown in Fig. 2. By means of the friction Washer 88 and by means of the bearings 11,11, which can be loaded as already described, resistance is offered to the rotation of the nut. The said resistance is sufficient to normally prevent rotation of the nut 14 with the screw 68 by power transmitted from the motor, but it is not so great as to interfere with rotation of the nut by means of the hand wheel 18.

Upon power feeding in the rearward direction, if the feeding is not otherwise stopped, the front end of the screw 88 will engage a stop screw 8| threaded into the forward extension on the nut 14 and the nut will then turn in the bearings 11, 11, thus stopping the feeding and preventing any damage to the machine. Upon power feeding in the forward direction, if the feeding is not otherwise stopped, the cross slide 16 will reach its rearward limit of movement and thereupon frictional engagement between the screw 68 and the nut 14 will be increased to such an extent that the nut will turn with the screw in the bearings 11, 1, thus permitting continued rotation of the screw without damage to the machine.

While the construction shown in Fig. 3 is similar in principle to that shown in Fig. 2, it nevertheless offers certain important advantages. The hand wheel 16 can be positioned very close to the cross slide with assurance that it will never encroach upon any space provided for the cross slide, because the two travel together. This makes it possible to use a much shorter extension on the nut and also makes it unnecessary to provide a long pointerarm for the hand wheel such as the arm 58 shown in Fig. 1. In lieu thereof there is provided the much shorter arm 8! which is carried directly by the cross slide.

It has been explained that outward movement of the cross slide is limited by engagement of the screw 59 or 8| by the end of the feed screw 53 or 68, or alternatively by engagement of the hub of the gear 52 with the inner end of the bushing 52. Inward movement of the slide is limited by engagement with an adjustable stop screw located in the lower part of the upright post of the machine, but not herein shown. When this occurs the bushing 62 again turns idly with the feed screw and the hand wheel.

Having thus disclosed my invention and described in detail a specific embodiment thereof for purposes of illustration, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a feed mechanism, the combination of a main frame, a slide movable n the frame and serving to effect relative cross movements between a cutting tool and a work piece, a rotatable screw and a rotatable nut engaging the screw, one of the last said elements being rotatably connected with the slide and axially movable in unison therewith and the other of the said elements being rotatably connected with the frame and held against axial movement whereby rotation of either element relative to the other causes movement of the slide, means for rotating the screw intermittently relatively to the nut to effect cross feeding movements of the slide, manually operable means for rotating the nut relatively to the screw to effect cross movements of the slide supplemental to those effected by rotation of the screw, frictional means for resisting the rotation of the nut under frictional drag of the screw, and means for establishing a positive rotary connection between the nut and screw.

2. In a feed mechanism, the combination of a main frame, a slide movable 0n the frame and serving to effect relative cross movements between a cutting tool and a work piece, a rotatable screw and a rotatable nut engaging the screw, one of the last said elements being rotatably connected with the slide and axially movable in unison therewith and the other of the said elements being rotatably connected with the frame and held against axial movement whereby rotation of either element relative to the other causes movement of theslide, two oppositely disposed anti-friction bearings for supporting the nut, the nut being otherwise freely rotatable, means for rotating the screw intermittently to effect cross feeding movements of the slide, manually operable means for rotating the nut to effect cross movements of the slide supplemental to those effected by rotation of the screw, means for applying endwise pressure to the anti-friction bearings so as to load the bearings and thereby resist rotation of the nut under frictional drag of the screw, and means for establishing a positive rotary connection between the nut and screw at either limit of cross feeding.

3. In a feed mechanism, the combination of a main frame, a slide movable on the frame and serving to effect relative cross movements between a cutting tool and a work piece, a rotatable screw and a rotatable nut engaging the screw, one of the last said elements being rotatably connected with the slide and axially movable in unison therewith and the other of the said elements being rotatably connected with the frame and held against axial movement whereby rotation of either element relative to the other causes movement of the slide, power operated mechanism rotating the screw intermittently relatively to the nut to effect cross feeding movements of the slide, manually operable means for rotating the nut relatively to the screw to effect cross movements of the slide supplemental to those effected by rotation of the screw, frictional means for resisting rotation of the nut normally to prevent it from rotating automatically with the screw without interfering with manual rotation of the said nut, and means including a stop at one end of the nut for causing the nut to rotate with the screw when the slide reaches its -limit of movement in either direction.

4. The combination in a feed mechanism, of a main frame, a slide movable on the frame and serving to effect relative cross movements between a cutting tool and a work piece, a rotat-' able screw connected with the slide and axially movable in unison therewith, a rotatable nut engaging the screw and held against axial movement with respect thereto, frictional means for supporting the nut from the frame leaving the nut otherwise free to turn, a gear connected with the screw and movable therewith, an elongated 7 pinion-zmeshing with the-gearand :of sufllcient length to remainin mesh therewith throughout the rangeof movement of thegear, poweroperatedl mechanism rotating the pinion intermittently to thereby rotate the screw intermittentlyrelatively-to thenut and'thereby effect cross feeding movements of the slide, and manually operable means'for rotatingthe nut-relatively. to the screw to eflfectcross movements-of the slide supplemental to those effected by rotation of the screw.

5. The combination in a feed mechanism, of a main frame, a slidemovable on theframe and serving to effect relative cross movements between ta cutting tool: and a work piece, a rotatable screw connectedwiththe slide and axially movable in unison therewith," a rotatable nut movements of :the slide -supplemental to those efiectedbyrotation of thezscrew, and means for resisting rotation '01 the nut normally to prevent it from rotatingwautdmatically with the screw without interfering with 'manual rotation of the saidnut.

6. The combination in a feed mechanism, of a main frame, a slide movable on the frame and serving ."to :eifect relative cross movements between a: cutting tool 'and a work piece, a rotatable screw: connected with the slide and axially movable-in unisontherewith; a rotatable nut engaging the screw' and held against endwise movement WithIrespect. to the main frame, power operated.mechanismfor rotating the screw intermittentlyirelatively to the nut to effect cross feed ing movements of the'slide, manually operable means for rotating the nut relatively to the screw to effect cross movements of the slide supplemental to those effected by rotation of the screw, means-for resisting rotation of the nut normally to prevent it from rotating automatically with the screw without interfering with manual rotation of the said nut, frictional means for supporting the nut from the frame while leaving it free to rotate with'the screw when the slide reaches its limit of movement in either direction, and a stop in one end-of the nut for determining one of said limits.

7. A feed mechanism comprisingin combination, a main-frame, a slide movable on the frame and :serving to'efiect relative cross movements between a cutting tool and'a work piece, a rotatable screw connected with the frame and held against axial movement, a rotatable nut engaging the screw androtatably connected with the slide and: axially movable in unison therewith, power operated mechanism for rotating the screw intermittentlyrelatively to the nut to effectcrossr feeding movements of the slide, manually operable-means for rotating the nut relatively to the screw to effectcross movements of the slide supplemental to those effected by rotation of the screw,- frictionalmeans for resisting rotation of the nut-normally to prevent it from rotating automatically with the screw without interfering with manual rotation of the said 'nut, and means for establishing a rotary connection between the nut and: screw at one limit of cross feeding.

8. A feed mechanism comprising in combination, a main frame, a slide movable on the frame and serving to effect relative cross movements between a cutting tool and a work piece, a rotatable screw connected withthe frame and held against axial movement, a rotatable nut engaging the screw 'and rotatably connected with the slide and axially movable in unison therewith, power operated mechanism for rotating the screw intermittently relatively to the nut to effect cross feeding movements of the slide, manually operable means for rotating the nut relatively to the screw to effect cross movements of the slide supplemental to those effected by rotation of the screw, means forresisting rotation of the nut to normally prevent it from rotating automatically with the screw without interfering with manual rotation of the said nut, and means including a stop in theend of the nut for causing the nut to rotate with the'screw'when the slide reaches its limit of movement in either direction.

9.'A feed mechanism comprising in combination, a main frame, a slide movable on the frame and serving-to effect relative cross movements between'a cutting tool and a work piece, a rotatable screw connected with the main frame and held against axial movement, a rotatable nut engaging the screw'and axially movable in. unison with the slide, means'for frictionally supporting the nut from'the slide while leaving it otherwise free to turn with the screw, power operated mechanism for rotating the screw intermittently relatively to the nut to effect cross feeding movements of the slide, a graduated hand wheel carried by and bodily movable'with the nut and the slide for rotating the said nut relatively to the screw to effect cross movements of the slide supplemental to those effected by rotation of the screw, a stop in the end of the nut for engaging the end of the screw, and-a pointer arm carried by and movable with the slide for indicating the extent of rotation of the hand wheel.

STEPHEN E. WOODBURY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,846,956 Einstein et a1 Feb. 23, 1932 2,118,369 Vancil May 24, 1938 

